Fitchburg nixes drug detox facility

FITCHBURG -- The Zoning Board of Appeals has voted unanimously against granting a variance to allow a city pastor to open a drug and alcohol detoxification facility out of his Cleghorn property.

Members of the board cited several reasons for denying Dr. Dennis Bradley the variance for 63 Fairmount St., including the taxes he owes the city on the property, disruption to the neighborhood and improper quarters for the residents of the would-be Mercy Recovery Center.

Board member Joseph Byrne said he visited the location prior to the meeting and found the area in which Bradley proposed center clients would be housed to be lacking windows and proper air circulation.

"I wouldn't want my son or my daughter to be living in an area like they would have the people living in," he said. "They'll be downstairs in the cellar, no windows, no cross ventilation or anything like that."

Board member Vincent Pusateri II agreed with Byrne that the service Bradley proposed to offer is needed in the city, but felt that the neighborhood would not benefit from having the center located there specifically. He and Chairwoman Lauren McNamara said they hope Bradley will continue with this idea and work with the city to develop a similar center elsewhere in Fitchburg.

According to board member Michael McLaughlin, city bylaws state that permits and variances should not be granted to applicants who are not in tax compliance.

Advertisement

Bradley owes the city a significant amount of back taxes on both 63 Fairmount St. and 283 Main St., the property out of which his "New Life" Spanish Christian Church operates. As of Wednesday, Bradley owed more than $14,500 in back real estate, water and sewer taxes, with close to $11,000 of that amount owed on 63 Fairmount St. alone, according to tax statements obtained at the city treasurer's office.

Bradley said he paid close to $5,000 on his taxes Friday morning to bring his property back into compliance with his payment agreement with the city, but this information was obtained following the closure of municipal offices and could not be verified with City Treasurer Brian Doheny. ZBA Secretary Kathleen Johnson said she spoke with Doheny Friday afternoon and was informed the amount Bradley paid was not enough to bring him back into compliance, and that no other agreement can be made at this time.

"I tried to do the best I could, and I am a law-abiding citizen," Bradley said. "I made my effort to help the community."

He said he understands that maybe it was the wrong place to put a detox center, but is sad because there are a lot of people in the area who need the service he was hoping to provide. Bradley said he would reassess where he might be able to put his proposed center and if he wants to pursue locating it elsewhere.

As for the tax issue, he said, "I am a busy person, and maybe sometimes I don't get on top of things, but that's already being taken care of."

Cleghorn Neighborhood Center Executive Director Joana Dos Santos, one of several who spoke in opposition of the proposed rehab center at the Jan. 8 ZBA meeting where Bradley's variance request was first addressed, said she was excited that the ZBA heard and acted upon what the people from Cleghorn had to say.

"I think that's what the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center strives for, to get the people's voices heard and affect decision making," she said. "I think this is a perfect example of how the democratic process really works."

Ward 2 Councilor Norman Boisvert said while Bradley needs to address his tax problems, he believes Bradley's idea is a wonderful and needed one, but it's not appropriate for the neighborhood.

"Dr. Bradley is a very smart man and his intentions are correct, because that's where his heart is, and I know this because I know him personally," he said. "His heart is in the right place, but unfortunately the building he wants to house them in is not. I really believe that this program should be in a hospital setting."

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sentinel and Enterprise. So keep it civil.